His Grace is Sufficient

2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness.

2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show how weak I am.

In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul gives an account of his labors and suffering, not out of pride, but to honor God, who enabled him to suffer for the cause of Christ. Read of his dangers, hardships, and sufferings, and take note of his patience, perseverance, diligence, cheerfulness, and usefulness in the middle of all these trials.

2 Corinthians 11:24-29 Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with a stick; once, I was pelted with stones; three times, I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a day and a night. I have traveled extensively and have been endangered by rivers, robbers, my own people, and Gentiles. I've also been in danger in the city, in the open country, at sea, from false brothers, in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger, thirst, many periods of fasting, coldness, and nakedness. Besides everything else, I have a daily burden because of my anxiety about all the churches. Who is weak without me being weak too? Who is caused to stumble without me becoming indignant?

My trials and tribulations seem insignificant compared to Paul's, so I study his patience, courage, and firm trust in God and learn to think less of myself, for I am as a flower fading and grass withering.

Isaiah 40:6-8 The voice said Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withers, the flower fades: because the spirit of the Lord blows upon it: surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God shall stand forever.

Yet, God's love for the world is shown in His redemption of it by giving His only begotten Son. John 3:16

Be encouraged that God will help those who humbly depend on Him, those who wait upon Him, and those who find strength in His Divine grace.

Isaiah 40:31 They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.